Table 2 Summary of treatments, number of independent infections, rationales, and classifications in the chemotaxis experiment
From: Ecological influences on the behaviour and fertility of malaria parasites
Treatment | N | Rationale | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Uninfected RBC | 10 | Control. To test whether microgametes are attracted to a zone of cells, regardless of cell type | Fresh blood |
Live asexuals | 13 | Control. To test whether microgametes are attracted to parasites/parasitized RBC | Purified asexual- stages in ookinete media |
Lysed asexuals | 12 | Control. To test whether microgametes are attracted to material liberated from lysed parasites | Asexual–stage parasites were cultured in ookinete media for 3 h before lysis (to match conditions used to prepare the lysed female treatment group) |
Live females | 9 | Female. To test if microgametes are attracted to live female gametes | Purified female gametes in ookinete media |
Lysed females | 10 | Female. To test if microgametes are attracted to material liberated from lysed females | Female gametes cultured in ookinete media for 3Â h to allow for the production and secretion of chemotactic cues as well as all other cell contents, before being lysed |